Mounting means for ignition switch locks



April 21, 1953 E. N. JACOB! 2,635,839

MOUNTING MEANS FOR IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS Filed March 17, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l dam N. :l-wubz 18 v "ll-x- A ril 21, 1953 E. N. JACOBI 2,

MOUNTING MEANS FOR IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS Filed March 17, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 am All Jaaab April 21, 1953 E. N. JACOB! 2,635,839

MOUNTING MEANS FOR IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS Filed March 17. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Edward N. zlaaubz & S

Patented Apr. 21, 1953 MOUNTING MEANS FOR IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS Edward N. Jacobi, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application March 17, 1947, Serial No. 735,276 Y 9 Claims. (01. 248-27) Thi invention relates to ignition switches for automobiles and refers particularly to the mounting of such switches upon the instrument panel. Hence, this invention is a continuation in part of the applicants pending application, Serial No. 665,879, filed April 29, 1946, now Patent No. 2,506,642, issued May 9, 1950.

The instrument panels of automobiles are now generally all provided with rearwardly directed flanges along their lower edges. Inasmuch as these flanges are hidden from view, the securement thereto of the switch retaining means enables mounting the switch on the panel without need for fastening any part of the switch or its retaining means to the upright or face portion of the panel.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved manner of utilizing the rearwardly directed flange along the bottom of the panel for anchoring a. retainin device by which the ignition switch may be quickly and easily mounted in position.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ignition switch retaining device which incorporates a spring element serving the dual function "of holding the retaining device attached to the flange at the lower edge of the panel and holding the switch firmly against the back of the panel with a force sufficient to prevent rattling and adequate to resist normal inward pressure applied to the front of the switch or its key during use.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for mounting an ignition switch or other instrument in back of a panel, wherein the need for rivets, spot welding or other fastening expedients is obviated by a novel snap spring fastening means securing the retaining device to the rearwardly extendedflange along the bottom edge of the panel.

In key controlled ignition switches the lock cylinder is insertable into its casing through an open front end, and some means must be provided for holding the cylinder in place in the casing. The present invention has as another of its objects, to provide means for performing this function as an incident to the securement of the ignition switch to the back of the panel.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means for illuminating the keyhole or front of the ignition switch, incorporated as part of the means for mounting the switch in back of the panel.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, thi in- 2 vention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appendedclaims, it being under-.

stood that such changes in the precise embodiment' of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate several complete examples of the physical embodiment of. the invention constructed according to the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through an be used to enable illumination of the keyhole or front of the ignition switch;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 but show ing another adaptation of this invention;

Fi ure 6 is a rear view of the structure shown in Figure 5; i I

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view through an instrument panel, as in Figure 1, but illustrating another form of the invention; a

Figure 8 is a cross-section view taken on the plane of line 8-8 in Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the front endof the switch device shown in Figure 7 and the bezel structure for securing the lock cylinder in position, said parts being shown separated.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates the face or upright portion of i an instrument panel of the type generally found in automobiles. The panel has the customary rearwardly directed horizontal flange 6 along the lower edge thereof. A round hole I is provided in the upright portion of the panel to receive the front end of an ignitionperformed as an incident t the securement of the switch device to the back of the panel, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The lock cylinder Ill is adapted to receive a key M which thus provides the handle for turning the cylinder and actuating the contactor of the switch '(not shown) by whichopening'and closing of the switch is eifected. As will be readily appreciated, the switch is connected in the circuit it controls by conductors (not shown) attached to terminals I2.

In all forms of the invention illustrated, the front of the lock cylinder i is .coveredby a. cap is stamped from sheet metal -andpolished to present a neat appearance. "This caph'asjan outwardly directed annular flange [4 which underlies the inner peripheral por-tie'n o'f .a be'zel ring 55. The bezel ring is of a size to-flt .the round hole 7 in the instrument panel and is shouldered and flanged as at It to fit the front end :of the casing!) "and engage the-'back'fac'e of the-panel. Thus 'by pressing the "casing 9 towardthe panel the bezel ring 'l's-is hel'd in place and this inturn; secures the lock "cylinder fll against removal from thecasing.

In that form of the invention shown in Figure 4, the bezel ring-incorporates-means for'illuminatingthefront'of the'keyhole-in'the panel. To this end'the-bezel ring IE-has-a-collanfi of translucent 'material, for instance Lucite, mounted thereon. An --a'uxiliary bezel ring; [8 shrouding the Lucite; collar"- fits-'thehole' in the panel 5, and, provides the-shoulder to'bear-agai-nst the back of'the panel. V

The bezel construction employed in thatform of the invention shown inFigures =7, "8 Sand '9 is modified from that shownin Figure lto the extent thatthe bezel ring l'has'two diametrically opposite pairs of hooks l9 to engage over lugs and 2| ;projecting radially from the casing. Also, in this case the bezel ring *flts the full diameter "of the casing whereas inFigure lit is mounted on a reduced front end portion of the casing. Thus in the-modified"embodiment shown in'Fi'gures'i, 8 ,and9,'thebezel ring'has a flange 22'which provides the-means rfor-engaging the back of the panel to hold the switch device against forward displacement.

*In all forms of the invention shown, a lu 23 struck'fromthebezelring'engages in'a'notch 24 in the edge of the 'hole "1 to hold the switch device against turning.

In the form of theinvention'shown'inFigures 1 to 6 inclusive, the casing '9 has diametrically opposite abutments or-lugs 25'projeoting1from-opposite sides and a spring retaining deviceindicated generally by numeral 26, engagesaga'in'st these lugs "to urge the ignition switch against the back of the'panel. V

The retaining device 26 shownin-Figures 1 to 3 inclusive is formedfrom a'lengt'h of spring wire initially bent to substantiallyhairpinshape. Its closed end is formedinto a hook 21 engageable over the upturned marginal edge portion 28 or therearwardly directed flanges; and at a medial point both legs of "the hairpin "are ooiledinto torsion springs 29. The free end portions 39 of the legs of thehairpin project from they-torsion springs substantially at right angles to its closed end portion 31. "*Ihese freeend portions 3'!) -eX- tend through holes-'3?! in the flange "6 When the retaining device issnapped-ontothe flange and the extremitiesthereof bear against the lugs 25.

"Thus when {the retaining device -is in position, the torsion springs 2 9'-bear against theunderside of the flange e and the free end portions 36) provide resilient arms embracing the casing of the switch device and acting against the lugs 25 to press the casing firmly against the back of the panel. In applying the retaining device the free end portion 30 are first insertedinto the holes 32 and positioned'against the lugslii while the switch device'is manually held in position. The hook 2'! is then snapped over the edge 28 of the =flange.

.The;portion-of the retaining device from the :torsion springs 29 back to the hook 21 thus constitutes an anchoring part while the arms 30 provide spring means'for pressing the switch de- .viceiagainst 'theback of the panel.

'Inthe construction shown in Figures 5 and 6, thespring-retaining device 2'5 is stamped from flat spring stock and has a substantially U-shaped or bifurcated-plate portiontt to embrace the switch casing and engage the lugs 25. At the closed end of=ithis bifurcated U -'.shaped portion 1 the ::stamp ing: is 'bent" into an :Ssh'aped configuration Shav ingtwo-loopsfi and-.35. tangz3iiis struclioutwaridly from 'theiloop 3'4ito project throughfia hole 3 l. in the flange refand rengage over the rear edge thereof. The loop 35 has an "extended straight extremity 38ifrom which'a-tang"39 is struck'inwardly. This tang '39 is so positioned that when the loop :Btrests upon thetupper :face

ofithe flange fi and'iits tang 35*p'r'ojects' intoithe holeril, upward flexure of thea'straightiextremity 38-from itsJposition-shown intdo'tted iines in Fig-- urei 5-brings the tang-3S in position to=be hooked overithe upturnedmarginal edgeifi. So engaged, the spring retaining device is anchored to the flange 6 in a manner permitting its 'biiurcat'e'd Li -shaped portion :33 to i'flextoward and from thapanel and "thus: perform 1 itsifunction' 0150110111- ing't'he "switch casing -against'the back of :the'

panel.

The retaining means iemployed in .aFigure :4 may be identical to that showninz'l i'gurejfbut in-thisreas'e a suitable; light source 40 is-rmount'ed on the switch 'casing'to shine through :anddllumina-te the translucent bezel .zp'ortion "ii.

.In :Figures 7, 8 .and 9,ithe springten's'ion for pressing the switch casing against the :back of the panel is {provided "by *a coil spring 41 "encirclingthe casing and reacting between an "anchor or: supporting structure d2 and "a 'ring "43 bearing against the lugs :20 and 2|. The ring 43 has an open gate 4:3 and a notch .45 to accommodatefthe lugs at or 2 E :By .having one of .t'hei'lugs longer than the other, the assembly and :disassembly of thering with the casing can be 'ei'fectedin only one position of relative rotation.

"The supporting 'or anchoring device #12 "is a stampingof sprin metal and. has afiat wall 36 apertured to receive the casing "9. The side edges of this flat wall are stifiene'd 'by' flangestl, one-of-whichhas ea rearwardly and downwardly directed extensionflfl with a notch 39 in'the outer extremity th'ereoffor engagement over the upturned marginal edge28 ofithe'flan'ge 6. The extremity-of this arm "48 also has a laterally directed tongue or handle portion '50 which may be fgrasped'by "a *pair of pliers to facilitate the application of the device.

:At the bottom-of the flat wall 46 are two downwardly projecting legs 5'! reinforced bybeads' '52 provided with hooks53 to engage over edges of'holes 54 in the flange 6.-

In mounting the ignition switch with theretaining device :as shown" in Figures 7 'to 9 inclusive, the supporting or anchoring member'as well as the spring 4| are first assembled with the switch, and then the front end of the switch device is inserted into the hole I in the panel. This done, the legs 5! are inserted intothe holes 54, and thereafter the arm 48 is sprung to snap the marginal flange 28 into the notch 49.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent that this invention provides a simple inexpensive manner of quickly mounting an ignition switch on the instrument panel of ana'utomobile. i

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Means for mounting an instrument in position on the back of an instrument panel of the type provided with a rearwardly directed flange" along its lower edge and having an aperture in an upright portion of the panel to receive a reduced end portion at the forward extremity of the instrument to locate the same and to expose the reduced extremityof the instrument to view at the front of l the panel, comprising: a spring member having, an anchoring portion removably hooked onto said rearwardly directed flange, and having spaced arms extending upwardly from the flange to embrace the sides of the instrument and engage abutments thereon, attachment of the retaining device to the rearwardly directed flange tensioning the spring arms in the directionto press the instrument against the back of the panel.

2. Means for mounting an instrument in position on the back of an instrument panel of the type provided with a rearwardly directed flange along its lower edge and having an aperture in an upright portion of the panel to receive a reduced end portion at the forward extremity of the instrument to locate the same and to expose the reduced extremity of the instrument to view at the front of the panel, comprising: a spring member having a part readily removably hooked onto the edge of said rearwardly directed flange and having a spring arm extending upwardly from the flange alongside the instrument, the attachment of said spring member to the flange tensioning the spring arm so that said spring arm is biased toward the back of the panel; and an abutment on the instrument engaged by the spring arm whereby said biasing force of the spring arm holds the instrument firmly against the back of the panel.

3. A spring retaining device for holding an ignition switch in position in back of the instrument panel of an automobile, comprising: a length of spring wire bent substantially into a hairpin shape with its closed end formed into a hook for engagement over the edge of a flange on the panel and with the legs of the hairpin coiled into torsion springs at a point medially of the hooked closed end and the free extremities of the legs, so that upon attachment of the hooked closed end of said spring device over the edge of a rearwardly extending flange along the bottom of the instrument panel, the free end portions of the legs of the device may protrude upwardly through holes in the flange to provide means for pressing the switch against the back of the panel.

4. A spring retainer for holding an ignition switch against the back of an instrument panel equipped with a rearwardly directed flange along the lower edge thereof, comprising: a substantially U-shaped spring clip, the arms of which are adapted to embrace the body of the ignition switch with the extremities thereof pressing against abutments thereon, the closed end of the U-shaped spring clip having a substantially shaped curvature; a tang projecting outwardly from the curve of the S nearest the outer arms of said clip, said tang being adapted to engage in a hole in the rearwardly directed flange when said clip rests on the top of said flange; and a tang struck inwardly from the outer end portion of the other curve of the S and positioned to hook over the marginal edge of the rearwardly directed flange to thus anchor the spring clip to the flange.

5. Means for mounting an instrument on the back of an instrument panel of the type provided with a rearwardly directed flange along its lower edge and having an aperture in the upright portion of the panel to receive the front endl portion of the instrument to locate the same and expose the front end of the instrument to view at the front of the panel, comprising: a shoulder on the front end portion of the instrument engaging the back of the instrument panel and preventing forward displacement of the instrument with respect to the panel; a spring support detachably secured to the rearwardly directed flange and extending upwardl therefrom with a portion thereof embracing the medial part of the instrument; an abutment on the forward portion of the instrument; and a coil spring encircling the instrument and reacting between said abutment and the spring support,

6. Means for holding an ignition switch of the type having a lock cylinder inserted intcthe body of the switch through the front end thereof, to

the back of an instrument panel, comprising: a

bezel ring on the front, end of the switch casing engaging over a part of the lock cylinder; abutments projecting from the side of the casing;

means on the bezel ring engaging over said abutments to hold the bezel ring in position on the front end of the casing; a flange on the bezel ring engaging the back of the instrument panel with a portion of the bezel ring protruding through a hole in the instrument panel; an anchor part secured behind the instrument panel; and spring means reacting between said abutments and said anchor part to firmly hold the switch device against the back of the panel.

'7. In combination with a key controlled ignition switch having a bored casing and a lock cylinder mounted therein: means for mounting the ignition switch in back of an instrument panel with the front of the lock cylinder exposed to view at the front of the panel through a hole therein, said means including a bezel ring encircling the front end of the casing and received in the hole in the panel, part of said bezel ring being translucent; and a light mounted behind the panel and adjacent to the switch device to illuminate said translucent part of the bezel rin and thus facilitate location of the keyhole at night.

8. A support for an instrument of the type having a reduced portion at its forward extremity and a forwardly facing shoulder immediately behind said reduced portion, said support being adapted to mount said instrument on a panel of the type having an aperture in an upright portion thereof adapted to receive said reduced portion of the instrument to locate the same and to expose it to view at the front of the panel and having a rearwardly directed flange along its lower edge, said support comprising: a rear part having a forwardly extending portion providing a hook having a downwardly facing abutment adapted to engage over and bear downwardly upon the rear edge of said flange; a forward part connected. with said rear part and having means thereon. providing an: upwardly facing abutment means-for applying" a. yielding "force tosaid instrument to urge the shoulder thereon into firm engagement with the back of the panel, said means including an upright part'onsaid support having spaced members extending upwardlyfrom said' forward partiand adapted to embrace a pore tion of the instrument and to directly receive the-reaction of said forward force and to translatesaid reaction into arearward reaction on said rearw'ardly facing abutment, a downward reaction on said abutment on the hook on said real part and an upward reaction on said abutment on the forward 'part to urge them into engagement with said flange.

9. In an installation of the type in which an instrument having a reduced portion at its rerward extremity and a forwardly facing shoulderimmediately behind said reduced portion is mountedon an instrument panel having an aperture in an upright portion thereof and in which said reduced portion is received to locate the instrument and to expose itto view at the front offthe panel said panel also having a rearwardly extending flange benea'thfsaid' aperture therein: means for applying a yielding forward force to the instrument to hold the shoulder thereon against the back of the panel, said means ineluding a forwardly disposed part including spaced upright members; adapted to embrace the instrument; a membergconnected with said up right member and extending rearwardlytherefrom to lie atone side of the flange and long enough to project-to therear edge of the flange; a downwardly facingabutment on the rear extremity of said rearwardly extending member adapted to engage the flangefand to thereby transmit part of the; reaction: force on saidupright partthrough the rearwardly extending part downwardly into the flange; and means on the lower portion of the upright-member adapted to pass through an opening in the flange to the underside, thereon said, means including an upwardly facing abutment spaced forwardly; of said downwardly facing; abutment and adapted to engagetheunderside of the'flange and arearwardly tacing abutment adapted to. engage the flange at the front edge of the hole therein-to transfer the remainder of the reaction force on the upright member to. the; flange.

EDWARD N. JACOBI.

B flfe'rences Cited. in the file. of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS m er N Dat 35 055 Morgan F b- 22, 1887 1, 913% Douglas Nov. 13, 923;

l, f j ac bi g Ja -7,1930

2,144,261 Johnston Jan. 17,1939

2,146,701 Peterson Feb. '7, I939 FOREIGN PATENTS? Number Country 7 Date 123,828 Great Britain Mar. 7, 1919 

